The Crown

In this debut historical thriller, an aristocratic young nun must find a legendary crown in order to save her father’s life and preserve all she holds dear. When novitiate nun Joanna Stafford learns her rebel cousin is condemned by King Henry VIII to be burned at the stake, she makes the decision to break the sacred rule of enclosure and flee her Dominican order in Dartford to stand at her cousin’s side. Arrested for interfering with king’s justice, Joanna, along with her father, Sir Richard Stafford, is sent to the Tower of London.

The Crown is an entertaining mystery set during the reign of Henry the VIII of England, revolving around Sister Joanna Stafford. Although it slows down a little at times, it quickly picks up again with a satisfying, although dragging, conclusion. I'm definitely looking forward to Nancy Bilyeau's next novel.

Andromeda's Fall: A Novel of the Legion of the Damned

All her life, Lady Catherine Carletto (called Cat) has lived for nothing but the next party, the next lover, the next expensive toy. Until, in a bloodthirsty power grab, Imperial Princess Ophelia and her cadre of synth assassins murder her brother the emperor, and go on to purge the galaxy of his friends and supporters - including Cat’s family. The Carlettos are known to be staunch supporters of the Emperor and Carletto Industries has been in the forefront of his pet project - developing cybernetic technology for the masses.

I chose this audiobook since I have enjoyed similar stories in the past, such as Elizabeth Moon's Vatta Wars and Jack Cambell's various series. Unfortunately, Andromeda's Fall didn't work for me. I listened the audiobook on and off for several months before I was finally able to finish it. Not a good sign. The main character, McKee (aka Catherine Carletto), was too on-spot and lacked any imperfection. She reminded me of the Mary-Sue stereotype from my fanfic days, making it hard for me to cheer her on.

On the other hand, the plot was intriguing and enjoyable. I haven't decided whether I will finish the series, since the storyline was great but I really disliked McKee. I will definitely be continuing my search for great SciFi, because this did not meet expectations.

Silhouette in Scarlet: The Third Vicky Bliss Mystery

Vicky Bliss is a Doctor of Art History who happens to be statuesque and beautiful. But her job at the National Museum in Munich is not enough to keep this intrepid academician entertained. It takes the thrill of an ancient mystery or dangerous romantic adventure to keep Vicky on her toes.

Elizabeth Peters blend lots of humour, a questionable romance and history into a stumbling caper that I couldn't wait to finish. I'm not always a fan of first-person narratives, but Vicky Bliss's straight forward, yet sarcastic personality really carries this series. In the third installment, Vicky travels to Stockholm on a supposed vacation, where she soon learns that John Smythe, her occasional beau and an art-thief, has less than honourable intentions for their visit.

As I previously mentioned, this is a part of a series, but the Silhouette in Scarlet could definitely be read out of order. However, I would definitely recommend starting with the second book which is entitled the Street of the Five Moons. Fortunately, this book is spoiler free!

Tarnished Knight: The Lost Stars, Book 1

The authority of the Syndicate Worlds’ government is crumbling. Civil war and rebellion are breaking out in many star systems, despite the Syndic government’s brutal attempts to suppress disorder. Midway is one of those star systems, and leaders there must decide whether to remain loyal to the old order or fight for something new.

Aser Tolentino says:"Enjoy OBSTLT (or Be Subject to Life Termination)"

The Tarnished Knight is an offshoot of Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet series. Anyone who was at all curious about the Syndicate Worlds will enjoy this new perspective which follows CEOs Artur Drakon and Gwen Iceni in their bid for power. Neither trusts the other, but must rely on faith when facing their more ruthless advisories... the ISS Snakes who want Midway to remain under Syndicate rule.

For those who aren't familiar with the series: I believe you will still enjoy the book, but may have a steep learning curve as there are many reference to the prior books. Listening to the Lost Fleet series definitely enhances this story.

My only dissatisfaction is that this book ends in a cliff-hanger, but the next volume isn't released until October 2013 :(

The House at Riverton

Summer 1924: On the eve of a glittering Society party, by the lake of a grand English country house, a young poet takes his life. The only witnesses, sisters Hannah and Emmeline Hartford, will never speak to each other again....Winter 1999: Grace Bradley, 98, one-time housemaid of Riverton Manor, is visited by a young director making a film about the poet's suicide. Ghosts awaken, and memories, long consigned to the dark reaches of Grace's mind, begin to sneak back through the cracks.

Did you know that this book is sad, tragic even? Because I sure didn't, so I just thought I would warn you. To be fair, I probably should have seen it coming, but I assumed that it would be more about the events after the suicide and how they changed Grace. Be warned, it is not.

As for the story, while it was really long (and some parts really dragged), it's very engrossing and almost addictive at times. But I hated the fact that it was so sad... so I have about 30 minutes left, and a minute away from the big reveal. However, I'm not going to listen to the end. Instead I'm just going to imagine my own ending. It's better that way...

Where There's Smoke

No one knows why Lara Mallory opens up her medical practice in the rowdy Texas town where Tackett Oil owns everything. But everyone remembers her role in the well-publicized scandal that caused the downfall of White House hopeful Senator Clark Tackett. Now the ironfisted matriarch of Tackett Oil intends to use her money and power to drive Lara out of town...especially when Lara meets Key, the hell-raising, youngest Tackett son.

I decided to pick up Where There's Smoke after devouring both Mirror Image and White Hot. I'm glad it was on sale. The story wasn't bad, but it didn't live up to my high expectations after reading the first 2 books. Although the book maintained a good pace throughout with many twists and turns, I had a hard time enjoying it, especially after its conclusion.

One of the big problems with the audiobook was that the main characters weren’t likable. Key was more relatable than Lara, but halfway through the book he was still acting like a playboy. And while Lara wasn't a bad person, I found her very self-righteous, which turned me off her character. She was always preaching or harping at someone, which was funny since an affair had landed her in her current situation.

However, my biggest dislikes were the sex scenes and the final mystery. Usually I have no issues with sex in books, but in this case I found the vocabulary used vulgar. It wasn't sexy at all! And then the twist at the very end also put me off. Had it been revealed closer to the beginning I would have found Lara more relatable.

Although Where There's Smoke was an entertaining audiobook that contained a maze of mysteries, there are better books out there, including ones by Sandra Brown. I guess I'll just have to resume my search for the perfect book, because I didn’t find it here.

The Other Guy's Bride

Determined to prove her worth as a budding archeologist, Genisse Braxton vows to solve one of the world's greatest mysteries - to find the location of the lost city of Zerzura. Unfortunately, no man dares take the risk of escorting the resolute young scholar across the open desert. But on her way to Egypt, Genisse engages in a daring deception - she will switch places with Mildred Whimpelhall, who is traveling to meet her fiancé....

Having never read Connie Brockway before, I wasn't sure what to expect from the Other Guy's Bride. Fortunately, the novel, which is set in Eygpt, makes good use of its exotic location. The story involves a good dose of adventure, comedy, and romance, as well as two sparring adventurers with a lot of chemistry.

14

There are some odd things about Nate’s new apartment. Of course, he has other things on his mind. He hates his job. He has no money in the bank. No girlfriend. No plans for the future. So while his new home isn’t perfect, it’s livable. The rent is low, the property managers are friendly, and the odd little mysteries don’t nag at him too much. At least, not until he meets Mandy, his neighbor across the hall, and notices something unusual about her apartment. And Xela’s apartment. And Tim’s. And Veek’s.

Nate thinks he has found the perfect deal when an acquaintance tells him about a cheap studio apartment. But soon he realizes that the cheap price of his LA bachelor can't make up for the strange things happening in the building. Soon he, along with a group of neighbours, begins to focus his energy on finding out what's behind the many locked doors, why do all the cockroaches have seven legs, and why is there no information on the building's origins?

14 was a great listen that blended mystery, horror and even a little romance into one story. Nate, an average guy, is easy to route for and he surrounds himself with a great group of interesting characters. As someone who has never lived in LA, it's an interesting take on the city, since everyone in this book loves LA, even though LA doesn't love them back. They're trying to make ends meet, which means they're stuck living in a strange apartment building. I quickly found myself looking for more housework so I could learn more of theKavach building's mysteries.

Snow White Must Die

On a rainy November day, police detectives Pia Kirchhoff and Oliver von Bodenstein are summoned to a mysterious traffic accident: a woman has fallen from a pedestrian bridge onto a car driving underneath. According to a witness, the woman may have been pushed. The investigation leads Pia and Oliver to a small village, and the home of the victim, Rita Cramer. On a September evening eleven years earlier, two seventeen-year-old girls vanished from the village without a trace.

Like many others, I was intrigued by the title, Snow White Must Die. I don't often venture into mystery books, but fortunately my curiousity got the best of me this time. This book, translated from from the German and set in a seemingly quaint German village, quickly shows that village life can be far from idyllic.

What I loved most about this book was that no one in Tobais's village is what they seem and every member is hiding some kind of secret. Tobais's return to Altenhein quickly sets in motion a chain of events which begins to unravel years' old secrets that when uncovered have the potential to ruin more than one person's life. I found the mystery engaging, suspenseful, and more importantly unpredictable.

The Great Escape

Instead of saying "I do" to Mr. Irresistible, Lucy Jorik hitches a ride on the back of a beat-up motorcycle with a rough looking, bad-tempered stranger who couldn't be more foreign to her privileged existence. While the world searches for her, Lucy must search for herself, and she quickly realizes that her customary good manners are no defense against a man who's raised rudeness to an art form. Lucy needs to toughen up - and fast. Her great escape takes her to his rambling beach house on a Great Lakes island. Here, she hopes to find a new direction...and to unlock the secrets of this man who knows so much about her.

I'm usually a big fan of SEP but I found the Great Escape lackluster compared to her previous books. The story itself is very formulaic (heroine hides out from normal life, big conflict causes separation, the big reconciliation…), and Lucy and her alter-ego didn't live up to other SEP heroines. Sex scenes were used to try to maintain interest, but beyond those scenes, the story was kind of boring. I lost interest halfway through the story and ended up taking four months to finish… Unheard of!

The House On Tradd Street

Practical Melanie Middleton hates to admit she can see ghosts. But she's going to have to accept it. An Old man she recently met has died, leaving her his historic Tradd Street home, complete with housekeeper, dog - and a family of ghosts anxious to tell her their secrets.

Melanie Middleton and I would not be friends. But I'm okay with that, because even though I can't stand Miss Middleton (urgh), I love Karen White's Tradd Street series. I love that these books are set in Charleston (now I really want to visit!) and the tangled webs that run through this series heightens the mystery and intrique. The ghost story in this book is very engaging and Jack is super sexy (except possibly his taste in Melanie).

Even though Melanie is a prickly heroine, that strangely doesn't detract from this book. It's definitely worth the listen.

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